Post by blueadzuki on Jun 23, 2012 8:48:52 GMT -5
Hi All,
This is an opinion question, rather than an information request. Recently, in one of the grocery stores I frequent I managed to secure some seed for the edible version of grasspea, Lathyrus sativus (I think*) and so of course I am interestedin growing some of it. This is the question, given that it is currenty almost July, and given that I live up here in the Northeast (6b) do you think that, if I planted the seeds now, there would be enough time for the plants to flower set seed and have that seed mature before frost is likey to come, or at this point would it be better to bank the seed till next plating season. Information on growing grasspea is a bit sketchy, so I don't have any real clue as to how long it takes to mature, a 45 to 60 day plant I might be able to pull off, but an 85-120 would probably be hopeless at this time of year. The seed is marked as being from Umbria, Italy if that is any help) On the other hand, a part of me wants to get the seed in the ground sooner rather than later, as it really isn't in good condition; it really must have gotten bashed up in the packing for food (In fact, it got so mashed up that, even though I currently have almost 4 1/2 pounds of beans and only really need a handful to get a good patch going, I am planning to go back soon and pick up a great deal more if I can; I have found SO MANY that are fractured or have the "critical break" (a fracture across the hypcotly that basically means the seed is dead) that I am not sure that the amount I have will yiled enough fertile seed to make a real go of it.
Thank you for any imput you can give. I also wish to take back some of the dire warnings I made re growing grasspea, I was basing them on the grasspeas I had had experiance with (which now appear to be much wilder versions, higher in nasty stuff) and which I assumed were the way they all were I though grasspeas were the size of lentils (these ones I have now are fava sized, and a lot whiter (though not wholly white).
* I say I think becuse the bag is actually market "cicerchia" which according to the web can refer to either L.sativus or L.cinerea both of which have similar looking seeds and are grown in the same rough area. If I can get plants I might get a clue from the flower color, sativus usually has blue flowers, cinerea red (though both can make both, and many others as well) but until then it's sort of a guess.
This is an opinion question, rather than an information request. Recently, in one of the grocery stores I frequent I managed to secure some seed for the edible version of grasspea, Lathyrus sativus (I think*) and so of course I am interestedin growing some of it. This is the question, given that it is currenty almost July, and given that I live up here in the Northeast (6b) do you think that, if I planted the seeds now, there would be enough time for the plants to flower set seed and have that seed mature before frost is likey to come, or at this point would it be better to bank the seed till next plating season. Information on growing grasspea is a bit sketchy, so I don't have any real clue as to how long it takes to mature, a 45 to 60 day plant I might be able to pull off, but an 85-120 would probably be hopeless at this time of year. The seed is marked as being from Umbria, Italy if that is any help) On the other hand, a part of me wants to get the seed in the ground sooner rather than later, as it really isn't in good condition; it really must have gotten bashed up in the packing for food (In fact, it got so mashed up that, even though I currently have almost 4 1/2 pounds of beans and only really need a handful to get a good patch going, I am planning to go back soon and pick up a great deal more if I can; I have found SO MANY that are fractured or have the "critical break" (a fracture across the hypcotly that basically means the seed is dead) that I am not sure that the amount I have will yiled enough fertile seed to make a real go of it.
Thank you for any imput you can give. I also wish to take back some of the dire warnings I made re growing grasspea, I was basing them on the grasspeas I had had experiance with (which now appear to be much wilder versions, higher in nasty stuff) and which I assumed were the way they all were I though grasspeas were the size of lentils (these ones I have now are fava sized, and a lot whiter (though not wholly white).
* I say I think becuse the bag is actually market "cicerchia" which according to the web can refer to either L.sativus or L.cinerea both of which have similar looking seeds and are grown in the same rough area. If I can get plants I might get a clue from the flower color, sativus usually has blue flowers, cinerea red (though both can make both, and many others as well) but until then it's sort of a guess.
